Agricultural supply company utilizes certification guidance

JW Services & Supply Inc. of Highlands County

Jill Murphy and her husband first started their business in May 2009. Now called JW Services & Supply Inc., their business focuses on building fences, cow pens, mineral feeders, horse barns, and other various agricultural work.

Although Murphy is not native to Florida, her husband’s experience in agricultural work has helped influence the two to do this for a living but when they decided to try to get HUBZone certified they were as Murphy said, “a fish out of water trying to make our way through,” in early 2009.

In 2010, they decided to reach out to the Florida SBDC at University of South Florida for some guidance.

Since then, the two have worked with consultant David Noel and have become HUBZone certified as well as have secured several other contracts throughout the years.

“He’s helped me stay accredited with what I need to do at that time. He has also helped me secure WOSB (Women Owned Small Business certification). He has worked with me very much so in the past six years,” Murphy said.

In 2011, when Murphy and her family went through many tragedies with the loss of her father and father-in-law, Noel helped keep the business on track.

“He has become very close to the family not only in a working, professional way, and has kept me on course with what needs to be done and to keep the business how it should be as far as certifications to be able to secure government contracts and all,” Murphy said.

“I could call him at just about anytime. We’ve done work through emails, texting, I’ll go the actual college to meet with him and many times it has been spur of the moment that I needed to do this just to have everything on track and to keep it running smoothly. He’s always been willing to assist me and help me,” she added.

JW Services & Supply Inc. of Highlands County has now added four employees to its payroll and continues to work with their consultant, Noel, to keep up with different requirements of certifications as they stay on track to see more growth in their business.

“There’s been many times that I don’t understand the lingo of these contracts where he does. He’s very knowledgeable. He’s very personable. I have never felt intimidated by him whatsoever. If anything he has helped me get through a lot of rough spots that I wouldn’t be able to do by myself,” Murphy said.

Murphy says she would recommend businesses at any stage work with the Florida SBDC at USF, and Noel.

“I strongly recommend the help of the SBDC in the fact of helping small businesses get started no matter what type it is, male or female, because there are a lot of pitfalls. There are a lot of hoax emails that are sent and once some of your information is in there, believe me you will get them, and you just have to be aware of them. He has been very helpful, once again, in helping me avoid that. He has just given me a lot of good advice through the years, I strongly recommend their help,” she said.